Stable

Nick and Zaed had asked around if anypony knew the whereabouts of Vain or his crew. Most rolled their eyes, some shrugged, and even a few looked around as if they were being watched.

Not much transpired from the duo's interactions with the mob of Equestria's underbelly, aside Nick almost being robbed several times in exchange for 'advice'.

Zaed scolded Nick in her own special way as they cuddled up outside of a bar, whispering into his ear, "What've I said about running off without me?"

Nick's face fell with a mixture of shame and annoyance, "You act as though I'm helpless. I'm just as capable as you are of holding my own down here."

Zaed pat his head, understanding he wanted to prove he was as capable of blending into the background as she was. He was not, though. At all. He was literally one sentence away from shouting how much of a hero he was to whoever walked upon him, so she wasn't sure if he was the one who should do the talking.

Yet, he always did the talking. He was comfortable with others. Zaed disliked the pressure of those judging eyes from crowds. That's why they'd had to stop. She just wanted to sit down for a bit. As stupid as it sounded, even if they were all low-life punks with unreal scores to settle, she couldn't stand them speaking about her. She heard them do so. Whenever a laugh would call out, even if it was one of half-intoxication. Or, a pair of eyes and her own met for that split second of glancing around for any sign of Dicer activity. Or, just whispers that drifted too close to not go unheard, yet so distant they were indecipherable.

So, Nick would speak, only of the phrases Zaed wanted him to. If somepony didn't catch what he'd said for some reason or didn't respond right away, the two were gone.

And, it'd left them with no answered questions as of late for the several hours they'd been walking/talking.

Nick suggested as his body was used as a heating device, "Maybe we should use a different approach."

Zaed shrugged as she and he snuggled against the wall, "Or, maybe we'll just wait here for a bit. This is nice. You're warm. As always."

Nick was going to remark himself when Zaed gently pushed him into her hooves, reaching around his back to find reach in his side fur.

After that, they vanished.

For good reason, too.

Geg was leading his fellow Dicers on home, having followed a lead that some ponies were asking too many souls about his gang.

Zree was visibly voicing her displeasure on the matter, specifically cursing that the only details most had coughed up were over the ponies' coat colors.

She discharged her Aerovolver into the street several times in succession, demanding, "Next pony that's red or orange I find I say we rip 'em right open! This ain't their home! They ain't got the rig-"

Style rubbed her back, reminding her as they were drawing too much attention onto themselves, "We gotta keep calm, girl. This ain't just our piece of the pie. Every foal's got a slice 'round here. Drop it for now."

She did drop it, pushing him off before flying away to harass nearby Diamond Dogs if they knew anything.

Zaed uncloaked Nick and herself shortly after the unruly group of Griffons took off.

Nick planned on asking Zaed if they should follow the trio, but her promptly going the exact opposite direction told him to follow and say no more.

...

After buying some robes to wear, Zaed decided only after some convincing from Nick to resume the open search for Vain himself.

Zaed asked of Nick as she tucked some of his far-too-pointy mane back under the aged cloth again, "Must you always want things done quick? Is it ever easy? Or, are you just impatient?"

Nick followed the line of questions up with a few of his own, "They were all three right there. Could've just followed them."

"No. No, we couldn't have. One had an itchy trigger talon."

"As if somepony being armed and dangerous has stopped you before."

"Not when literally everypony around me is as well, Nicholas. One shot is all it takes for a riot down here...I'd assume."

"But, you're so quiet."

"But, you are not."

As they descended down the street, they noted the three Griffons from before, easily noticeable from the golden guns dangling from their hips, glide down to meet up with the rest of their fellow Dicers.

In the center of the Pride, Vain stood up to his full height, smirk having retreated from his beak as he apparently was in an argument with a Centaur on some subject.

Zaed had Nick follow her lead, dipping his head to the side as she did.

They each took turns glancing up at the assembly of provoked gang members, viewing as each and every one of them brandished their guns at the unarmed technician...except Vain.

Vain's casual smirk re-emerged once more as he fell to a walking position, striding off into the street with his pack of vicious animals behind him.

Zaed breathed to her coltfriend just a few decibels above silence, "Look's like we found our next destination."